Kunitz at least scored. Malkin is floating. Neal is a scared bunny. Neal had an open net that would have tied it. Was it easy? No, but you'd hope a guy who had a breakout year would find a way to push that puck 3 inches to the right.

Come on dude. Malkin is being double and triple covered. There is no room for anyone in the O-zone. Neal made a helluva play on that puck. It didn't go in. Meanwhile, he's been banging everything in sight. Calling him a scared bunny is just nonsense.

Philly is a good team. They're down 0-2 in the ECF. Put your big boy pants on and deal with it - there's still 2 losses to go before they're out. I hope the men in the lockerroom aren't pee-ing their pants, too.

I wasn't aware that Malkin was left alone all season and just now is dealing with teams focusing on him.

I have never been more happy I was unable to watch a game in my entire life. Does anyone honestly think this team is built to win it all? Granted, I could eat my words down the line, but no way this team has a prayer of sniffing the Cup as currently constructed/philosophy.

Guinness wrote:If PGH were down 0-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals right now, would everyone be freaking out, calling for Bylsma's, Shero's and (yes, even) Crosby's and Malkin's heads right now? Nope.

This IS the Eastern Conference Finals. It just happens to be being played in the first round, thanks to the seeding rules.

Philly is a helluva team, and it's no real embarrassment to be down to them, quite frankly. It would be an embarrassment to be down against Ottawa, Washington, or Florida; but they're playing the one team in the East that actually has a chance to beat them.

Calm down. I sure hope it's not as freaked out in the lockerroom as it is here.

I disagree. The Pens have been exposed. Maybe in an alternate universe they survive a round but even the Rangers amped it up for the playoffs. Pens d and depth is horendous.

Pens are up 2-0 against the Rangers right now. Philly is a bad first round matchup. People need to start thinking of this as the ECF in order to keep things in perspective.

Really? You dont think other coaches would have figured out how to push the Pens?

This is my first ever post on here and is all I have to say is embarrassing. This team's team defense is awful, in the defensive zone they just lunge at people and try and stick their sticks out waiting for something to happen. I played hockey for 15 years and I played defense and you have to move your feet and skate and stay in front of people. This team looks like they should be in the NBA, their defense is awful, they don't move their feet and do not stay in front of people, just wave their sticks around and look for an interception to lead to a breakaway. They need to fix this or were going home early

Also, the moaning about the defense... I think it has more to do with what I said above. The whole team looks lost on D. If it were just Michalek and Martin, you could say it's the players. But when everyone looks lost and out of position and don't seem to know what to do, that's a system issue. Michalek is a good D man who has had brilliant stretches on this team. I don't think he all of a sudden turned terrible.

Henry Hank wrote:I don't want to harp on that too much though because it's unlikely that one player makes that big a difference. This is a team issue. This is a style and mentality problem. The Pens can't play with a lead. They have one way that they play and they stick with it no matter what. Philly is a dynamic team, they can come at you aggressively but they can also shut down and protect a lead if they have to. That was so evident tonight. That's why they're a better team.

That I believe is what you call playoff hockey. The Flyers know how to adjust between pds. mid period mid play mid stride on the fly to what ever is happening around them. As you say the Pens play one way no matter what and that obviously is NOT working all the time. They haven't figured out how to adjust on the fly to what is happening around them and they are getting beat every which.

Guinness wrote:Come on dude. Malkin is being double and triple covered. There is no room for anyone in the O-zone. Neal made a helluva play on that puck. It didn't go in. Meanwhile, he's been banging everything in sight. Calling him a scared bunny is just nonsense.

Philly is a good team. They're down 0-2 in the ECF. Put your big boy pants on and deal with it - there's still 2 losses to go before they're out. I hope the men in the lockerroom aren't pee-ing their pants, too.

I wasn't aware that Malkin was left alone all season and just now is dealing with teams focusing on him.

bhaw wrote:Flyers in our zone was like watching a bad roller hockey mismatch. They are just circling our zone until a play develops. Their PP is cross ice passes until the net is open.

It looks like no one knows what their role in the D zone is. Guys are backing off guys with no one to pick that guy up. They are letting the Flyers skate around the back of the next then cut to the center with the puck before they even engage them. And, of course, the stick checks are like a small rookie CB trying to arm tackle Jerome Bettis in the open field (in his prime). They just skate through it. I don't know how better to describe it... it looks exactly how roller hockey teams play D when they are playing a better team. Just hope to stay between your guy and the goal and maybe it will work out.

My breaking point with DB will be if the Pens come out with a 4 forward PP in Philly. For me, giving up 2 shorties to blow a playoff game should be enough to show it doesn't work against the team they are playing. If that's not adjusted, I have no faith in our coaching.

So who is the 2nd defenseman who should be out there on PP? Martin? Orpik? Might as well decline the penality.

Guinness wrote:Come on dude. Malkin is being double and triple covered. There is no room for anyone in the O-zone. Neal made a helluva play on that puck. It didn't go in. Meanwhile, he's been banging everything in sight. Calling him a scared bunny is just nonsense.

Philly is a good team. They're down 0-2 in the ECF. Put your big boy pants on and deal with it - there's still 2 losses to go before they're out. I hope the men in the lockerroom aren't pee-ing their pants, too.

I wasn't aware that Malkin was left alone all season and just now is dealing with teams focusing on him.

Fleury should not start the next game. Also RS has one more season before I am calling for his head. We have no backup goalie worth a damn. We have Engeland and Lovejoy as a top 6 pairing. Pathetic job RS. Pathetic. I will give him one more year before I am calling for his head. DB needs fired immediately. Martin needs dumped for anyone stupid enough to take his worthless arse.

Guinness wrote:Come on dude. Malkin is being double and triple covered. There is no room for anyone in the O-zone. Neal made a helluva play on that puck. It didn't go in. Meanwhile, he's been banging everything in sight. Calling him a scared bunny is just nonsense.

Philly is a good team. They're down 0-2 in the ECF. Put your big boy pants on and deal with it - there's still 2 losses to go before they're out. I hope the men in the lockerroom aren't pee-ing their pants, too.

I wasn't aware that Malkin was left alone all season and just now is dealing with teams focusing on him.

Rocco is trying out to take over the screen name Puck Drama 2.0. Sad.

Sorry but I don't buy why we're making excuses for a guy who led the league in scoring and is the likely Hart winner. He bears the burden of expectations, whether he likes it or not. He's had a bullseye on his chest all season and it hasn't mattered until now.

Guinness wrote:Come on dude. Malkin is being double and triple covered. There is no room for anyone in the O-zone. Neal made a helluva play on that puck. It didn't go in. Meanwhile, he's been banging everything in sight. Calling him a scared bunny is just nonsense.

Philly is a good team. They're down 0-2 in the ECF. Put your big boy pants on and deal with it - there's still 2 losses to go before they're out. I hope the men in the lockerroom aren't pee-ing their pants, too.

I wasn't aware that Malkin was left alone all season and just now is dealing with teams focusing on him.

Rocco is trying out to take over the screen name Puck Drama 2.0. Sad.

Sorry but I don't buy why we're making excuses for a guy who led the league in scoring and is the likely Hart winner. He bears the burden of expectations, whether he likes it or not. He's had a bullseye on his chest all season and it hasn't mattered until now.

bhaw wrote:Flyers in our zone was like watching a bad roller hockey mismatch. They are just circling our zone until a play develops. Their PP is cross ice passes until the net is open.

It looks like no one knows what their role in the D zone is. Guys are backing off guys with no one to pick that guy up. They are letting the Flyers skate around the back of the next then cut to the center with the puck before they even engage them. And, of course, the stick checks are like a small rookie CB trying to arm tackle Jerome Bettis in the open field (in his prime). They just skate through it. I don't know how better to describe it... it looks exactly how roller hockey teams play D when they are playing a better team. Just hope to stay between your guy and the goal and maybe it will work out.

My breaking point with DB will be if the Pens come out with a 4 forward PP in Philly. For me, giving up 2 shorties to blow a playoff game should be enough to show it doesn't work against the team they are playing. If that's not adjusted, I have no faith in our coaching.

So who is the 2nd defenseman who should be out there on PP? Martin? Orpik? Might as well decline the penality.

Going 10-15% on the PP is better than giving up shorties. I fail to see the benefit vs the Flyers of having a guy out there that they attack when they get the puck and get multiple scoring chances and goals. Pens scored 2 PP goals but gave up 2 SHG. You're right... might as well decline it as it's the same net outcome without the demoralizing goals.

If the Pens lose and DB gets the boot, the rotation now looks like they would hire a disciplinarian/system coach....I'm not so sure these players really want that...you would think the though of having to play for Brent Sutter or someone would wake this bunch of fat cats up!

The lack of defense has nothing to do with system, pairings, or personnel. It has everything to do with pride, focus, desire, and attention to detial. I don't know if it's pinned on the coaches or the players, but this team is simply going through the motions out there, and expecting their opposition to do the same. It's painful to watch, and it's certainly not going to get this team very far. If they want to go anywhere this year, the Penguins need to start protecting their net.

Guinness wrote:Come on dude. Malkin is being double and triple covered. There is no room for anyone in the O-zone. Neal made a helluva play on that puck. It didn't go in. Meanwhile, he's been banging everything in sight. Calling him a scared bunny is just nonsense.

Philly is a good team. They're down 0-2 in the ECF. Put your big boy pants on and deal with it - there's still 2 losses to go before they're out. I hope the men in the lockerroom aren't pee-ing their pants, too.

I wasn't aware that Malkin was left alone all season and just now is dealing with teams focusing on him.

Rocco is trying out to take over the screen name Puck Drama 2.0. Sad.

I love how reality is mocked on this board.

Additionally, if we're going to let Malkin off the hook lets get the 9M worth of wingers we built around him off his line

AlexPKeaton wrote:Fleury should not start the next game. Also RS has one more season before I am calling for his head. We have no backup goalie worth a damn. We have Engeland and Lovejoy as a top 6 pairing. Pathetic job RS. Pathetic. I will give him one more year before I am calling for his head. DB needs fired immediately. Martin needs dumped for anyone stupid enough to take his worthless arse.

MAF has to start....the coaching staff needs to adjustments to their "strategy" or "system"...........

Guinness wrote:Come on dude. Malkin is being double and triple covered. There is no room for anyone in the O-zone. Neal made a helluva play on that puck. It didn't go in. Meanwhile, he's been banging everything in sight. Calling him a scared bunny is just nonsense.

Philly is a good team. They're down 0-2 in the ECF. Put your big boy pants on and deal with it - there's still 2 losses to go before they're out. I hope the men in the lockerroom aren't pee-ing their pants, too.

I wasn't aware that Malkin was left alone all season and just now is dealing with teams focusing on him.

Rocco is trying out to take over the screen name Puck Drama 2.0. Sad.

Sorry but I don't buy why we're making excuses for a guy who led the league in scoring and is the likely Hart winner. He bears the burden of expectations, whether he likes it or not. He's had a bullseye on his chest all season and it hasn't mattered until now.